DOCD

Disease Outbreak Control Division

The Disease Outbreak Control Division (DOCD) comprises the Disease Investigation Branch, Immunization Branch, and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response (Public Health Preparedness) Branch. These programs work together to monitor, investigate, prevent, and control infectious diseases in Hawaii, especially those preventable through immunizations, and to ensure Hawaii’s ability to respond to emergencies that threaten the public’s health. Toward these goals, DOCD works to strengthen the relationships between the Department of Health and other partners including laboratories, hospitals, schools, emergency response agencies, private organizations, and the military.

IN THE NEWS:

February 2015

Multistate Measles Outbreak Associated with Travel to Disneyland

As of January 30, 2015, 102 people from 14 states have been reported as having measles. Most of these cases are part of a large, ongoing outbreak linked to visits to Disneyland Resort Theme Parks in Orange County, CA. Cases associated with the California outbreak have been reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Mexico, and other suspect cases are under investigation. The majority of cases linked to this outbreak were unvaccinated.

Measles is highly contagious but is a vaccine-preventable disease. This outbreak serves as an important reminder for everyone to keep up-to-date on their immunizations. For more information, visit: http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/home/imm/measles/.

October 2014

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

Following a disease investigation, on October 2, 2014 the Hawaii State Department of Health (HDOH) determined that a patient who was being kept in isolation at a Honolulu hospital did not have Ebola infection. As of October 24, 2014, there have been four confirmed cases of Ebola in the United States. A travel related case that was diagnosed in Dallas, Texas on September 30, 2014, and passed away October 8, 2014, two nurses that provided care to the original patient, confirmed on October 12, 2014 and on October 15, 2014, and a volunteer returning from Guinea diagnosed in New York City on October 23, 2014.

HDOH continues to closely monitor the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the recent cases in Texas and New York City, and is working with state, local, federal, and community partners in Hawaii to make sure all involved are informed and prepared in the event of a possible case of Ebola infection.

Recently, hospitals in Missouri and Chicago, IL, have reported higher numbers of children with severe respiratory illness than usual for this time of year and have found EV-D68 in a large number of the children. Other states have also reported cases of EV-D68 in patients, but because it is difficult to define the baseline level of EV-D68 infections in states (EV-D68 is not a reportable illness, and often when an enterovirus infection is found, the specific type is not identified) it is not clear yet if there is an increase in EV-D68 activity in other states as well.

As of this time, HDOH has not identified any issues relating to EV-D68 impacting Hawaii; however, HDOH will continue to closely monitor the situation.